Improvement in skates



UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE..

JAMES H. MOGUIRE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEM ENT IN SKATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,910. dated November l1, 1862.

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES H. McGUrRn, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Mode of Constructing Skates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description there- 0f, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of my improved skate, showing it attached to a boot or shoe, which, together with the connecting parts of the skate, are represented in section. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the skate, with the nut m and tongue-piece K shown detached.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in both of the iigures. A

My invention has for its object, rst, attaching the skate securely to the boot of the wearer without the use of straps; second, giving a degree of elasticity to the forward bearing, which supports the ball ofthe foot, and third, dispensing with posts or standards between the foot-piece and runner.

I construct the runners A of my improved skate of a bar of steel of suitable size to secure adequate strength, which is turned up at the forward part in the usual manner and to the average height of the toe of the boot, when it is abruptly bent backward, terminating under the ball of the foot at a suitable elevation to correspondwith the heel. This reversed part of the runner (marked B in the drawings) has attached to it by the screws c c, or by riveting or otherwise, a shield or frame, D, of sufiicient breadth to conveniently receive the foot and support it with stability. This portion, being unsupported by any post or standard, necessarily springs slightly under the weight of the wearer, and thus obviates the shock and jar consequent upon any concussion that may occur, and this eect is augmented by drawing down the bar B to a diminished size to secure as much flexibility as may be desired. The heel of the runner E is also formed by bending the bar Aup and carrying it back in the direction of thetoe a sufficient distance to bring the support under the center of the heel, when it is bent in a perpendicular direction and the heel-plate Gr attached. This plate has a flange turned up on the forward edge to keep the heel of the boot from sliding forward, and also for the purpose of fastening, which is provided with a slot, f, to receive the tongue h of the separate piece K. This piece is sunk into the forward part of the heel of the boot, and held by two screws passing through it. The tongue only projects, and in attaching the skate the slot of the heelpiece is slipped over it, which brings a thumbscrew, Z, in the plate D, in coincidence with the screw-hole in the nut-piece m, (which is inserted in the sole of the boot and secured by screws,) when the turning up of the screw tightens the connection at this point and prevents it moving or becoming loose at the heelfastening. By this simple mode of attaching the skate all straps, buckles, and other accessories are dispensed with, the labor of putting on and off is greatly reduced, and the connection rendered much more secure, as the skate cannot slip, work, or become misplaced upon the boot. The circulation of the blood in the feet and ankles is not retarded, nor is the muscular action impeded, as is the case when straps or lacings over and around the foot are used.

The construction of the skate is very simple, and secures unusual strength and durability with lightness, from there being no joints except between the runner and foot--` pieces. Posts or standards are usually fastened to the runner by welding, brazing, or a screw-connection, all of which are liable to give way when subjected to extraordinary strains; but with my construction the elevation of the parts on which the foot rests is obtained by turning or bending over the bar constituting the runner, as at B and E, without weakening the metal in the least, while the advantage gained by giving sufficient length to the forward support to allow it to act as a spring is important for the ease which it secures to the wearer by avoiding the shock of violent concussions. l

I am aware that skates have been so made as to allow the entire foot-piece to spring or yield under the weight of the wearer.

It is obvious that by extending the heel of the runner farther back I can in the same manner obtain a spring-support for the heel ofthe wearer; but I prefer to have the heel rigidly supported, and it is one of the distinguishing peculiarities of my skate that, while the support of the forward and mobile portion of the foot is comparatively elastic, that of the heel is rm and unyielding.

I do not claim merely forming a skate with the front portion of the foot-support elastic and the rear portionof the supportrigid oth- Wise than is above described, and when the said supporting portions are disconnected and independent from each other except throughv the runner; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The elastic support B, for the front of the foot, `formed by bending the steel bar backward over the runner, and the rigid support E for the heel, formed by bending the bar back acutely and then raising it vertically, when the said supports are disconnected and independent, except through the runner, the

Whole operating substantially as herein set forth.

2. Securing the skate to the foot at the rear by means of the heel-piece K, provided with the broad tongue h, resting in the corresponding slot f of theY heel-plate, and at the front `by means of the screw Z and nut-piece m, the

, JAS. n. Modulen. Vitnesses: y

J. FRAsER, D. C. JOHNSON. 

